1989 328 Garage Queen Passes CA SMOG!

As some of you may know here on FChat, I recently bought a 1989 328 GTB with 4,300 original miles…..i.e. a Garage Queen as some would say. I prefer to just say an all original super low mileage 328. I took delivery of the 328 a week ago. This 328 had not been driven the last 15 years…..It was never even registered the last 15 years….it was purely an investment 328 for the previous owner….Just bought it and let it sit in a well controlled environment. It did however have oil changes, and fluid changes every few years and in 2005 a spark plug change. That is it.

I often read on this forum how bullet proof the 328 series really is with regards to the engine. So I took the opportunity before I have the major service done to see if the 328 will pass SMOG here in California. As we all know California has just about the toughest SMOG laws around. I figured what an opportunity to really test a 328 that has been sitting for quite some time and to see if it would pass SMOG. Sure enough I made the appointment here in Mill Valley today to have her tested…..The 328 passed CA SMOG with flying colors the first time out of the gate…..

Just thought this was an interesting test to do on a Garage Queen 328 that is like new in every respect……Interesting test I thought.

 

No penalties....just high sales tax! I am not sure what a "PNO'd" even is.....But no penalties of any kind.

 

Serial number is: ZFFXA19A2K0078894. It is a 1989 328 GTB with 4,300 original miles...beautiful car.

 

Yes I found this very reasuring actually.....I mentioned in the original post I wanted to do this "before" I have the major service done (at which time the belts will be repalced etc). This was a great test to do I think and speaks to the quality of the 328 engine series. A well maintained 328 is a pretty strong beast.....I think it also shows that the 328 series is a pretty tough nut of a Ferrari and even after sitting for 15 years (15 very very well cared for years) it was able to pass California Emissions Standards straight out of the gate. Much more I only drove the 328 from my house in Mill Valley to the Emissions testing staion, which is about 10 minutes on local roads (I never even got out of third gear)....the 328 was barely warm from the drive and she still passed California Emissions with flying colors. The guys at the testing were amazed at this car and the condition it was in...their exact words were "has this ferrari been in a time capsul or something...man it looks awsome"

I think this was an "awsome" test actually. I do not really think the 328s are as tender as people make them out to be ( I can say this as I have read every 328 post over the last 2 years at least twice). The second note is on the drive home a torential rain storm came through as I was just finished getting her tested. I drove her home in a torential rain storm......again no issues and she performed fantastically. Of course after I got home I dried her off and aways she swent for the rest of the day.....The first bath so to speak.....As I was drying the car off I got to go over every inch of it....I was amazed at the quality and feel of the car...every nook and crany was dried and I was amazed how well she feels when you dry her off....love the curves on the GTB....and with a Factory delete rear spolier she looks awsome.

For those of you who are cringing in year seats when you read the original post.....I do plan to have the original tires replaced (which have full tread wear and speak to the low mileage) and the major service done in the next few weeks....again this was an awsome test to the reliability of the 328 series...not to many chances come along to test a 15 year old 1989 328 GTB with 4,300 original miles on California Emissions.

 

Hi Dave....its yours for a mere $30k X 2 + $5K......Delivered to your door!

.....M

 

First, no reason to shoot down anyone in flames. Everyone has opinions on things which is what makes this forum so great.

Like I mentioned, this test was interesting to test if a car that has been sitting for 15 years could pass CA Emissions before the Major service?….and of course I would not have done the test if the 328 had 15 year old oil as I would not wish for that to circulate internally within the engine…but it has new oil etc from the previous owner. The belts were actually inspected before I bought the car…They looked fine but did recommend they be changed of course, which they will be when I take the car in for its major service this week. I was interested in the engine itself to see if it would be able to pass emissions.

There was no danger in wrecking the engine…328s are not like 348s in that respect. The drive on the 15 year old belts was a 10 minute ride on local roads, never out of third gear or above 30MPH……The test also proved that parts in general (like belts) are pretty robust as well. Now had I bought a 348 instead of a 328, no way I would have done this test to be perfectly clear.

I can guarantee you I take care of my 328. I am sending her in this week for a major service, where all hoses will be swapped out for new ones, water pump rebuilt, all seals replaced etc…..sparing no expense on the major service. Just my opinion, but cars in general are pretty robust and not made of “glass”. Just because the 328 is Ferrari does not mean it is not a robust car…..I would think just the opposite actually…they are made for performance and in general things like belts etc are made to withstand high performance driving……I had not a worry in the world on this test I did.

……M

 

Ok guys I give up here......I did my test in the name of science......worked just fine and as a result I have a lot more faith in belts than I ever used to......I would do the test again given the chance....anyway enough on this thread.....

.......M